against the family of Orange led him into measures not always advantageous to his country; but it ought at the same time to be remembered, that neither the genius of Lewis XIV. nor the resources of the French monarchy, were then known.

De Wit, equally distinguished by his magnanimity, ability, and integrity; and who knew how to blend the moderate deportment of the private citizen with the dignity of the minister of state-De Wit, who had laid it down as a maxim, that no independent state ought ever tamely to suffer any breach of equity from another, whatever their disparity in force, when informed of the hostilities of England, did not hesitate a moment how to act. He immediately sent orders to de Ruyter, who was cruising with a fleet in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of chastising the piratical states of Barbary, to sail toward the coast of Guinea, and put the Hollanders again in possession of those settlements from which they had been violently expelled. The Dutch admiral, who had a considerable body of land forces on board, recovered all the conquests of the English on the coast of Africa, except Cape Corse-Castle. He even dispossessed them of some of their old settlements; and sailing for America, he insulted Barbadoes, committed hostilities on LongIsland, and took a considerable number of ships 8. A declaration of war was the consequence of these mutual hostilities, and both sides prepared for the most vigorous exertions of their naval strength. By the prudent management of de Wit, a spirit of union was preserved among the States; great sums were levied; and a navy, composed of larger ships than the Dutch had ever before sent to sea, was speedily equipped. Charles, who was perfectly acquainted with naval architecture, went himself from port to port, inspecting the dock-yards, and hastening the preparations. Sailors flocked from all quarters; and

A. D. 1665.

18. Ibid.

James

James, duke of York, the king's brother, who had been originally designed for the head of the navy, and was now lordhigh-admiral of England, put to sea with a fleet of an hundred sail, besides fire-ships and bomb-ketches, and stood for the coast of Holland. Prince Rupert, and the earl of Sandwich commanded under him. The Dutch fleet, of at least equal force, was commanded by admiral Opdam, in conjunction with Evertson and young Tromp, son to the famous admiral of that name, killed in the former war. They declined not the combat. The sea was smooth, and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. The duke of York, in the royal Charles, bore down upon Opdam, and a furious battle began. The contest was continued for four hours with great obstinacy: at length Opdam's ship blew up, and the Dutch, discouraged by the awful fate of their admiral and his gallant crew, fled toward the Texel. They lost near thirty ships, and their whole fleet might have been sunk or taken, had the English made a proper use of their victory. But unfortunately about midnight, orders were given to shorten sail20; so that, at morning, no hopes, of overtaking the enemy remained. And thus was neglected an opportunity of destroying the naval force of the Dutch, which never returned in this, or in any succeeding war. The English lost only one ship.

19. King James's Memoirs.

JUNE 3.

20. These orders were given by one Bronker, a gentleman of the duke's bedchamber, while his master was asleep, and without his authority, if we believe the royal memorialist;-and his behaviour during the action, leaves us no room to suppose he could be afraid of a beaten and flying enemy. But it is nevertheless well known, that the same man may be a hero at noon, and a coward at midnight. In a word, it is highly improbable, that Bronker should dare to give such orders of himself; and although we know nothing positively to the contrary, we are informed by Burnet, that the duke seemed very much struck, when, understanding that he was likely to come up with the enemy, he was told by Penn, his captain, that he must " prepare for better work in the next engagement," as the Dutch always gather com age from despair. (Hist. of bis Own Times, vol. i. book ii.) This information Burnet had from the earl of Montague, who was then a volunteer on board the duke's ship.

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The

The joy arising from the duke of York's naval victory, 60 highly extolled by the adherents of the court, was much diminished by the breaking out of the plague, which carried off near an hundred thousand persons in London in one year. The melancholy apprehensions occasioned by this calamity, added to the horrors of war, were increased by the prospect of new enemies. Lewis XIV was obliged to assist the Dutch, in consequence of his alliance with de Wit and the States: and the king of Denmark, who was jealous of the naval power of England, engaged to furnish thirty ships in support of the same cause, for an annual subsidy of fifteen hundred thousand crowns'. De Wit, however, who was now blamed as the author of the war, did not trust to these alliances. He not only forwarded the naval preparations but went on board the fleet himself; and so extensive was his genius, that he soon became as much master of the sea affairs, as if he had been bred to them from his infancy. By his courage and capacity, he quickly remedied all the disorders occasioned by the late misfortune; infused new confidence into his party, and revived the declining valour of his countrymen22.

In order to balance so formidable a combination, Charles attempted, but without success, to negociate an alliance with Spain. Conscious, however, that Lewis could have no serious purpose of exalting the power of Holland, and elated with recent success, he was not alarmed at the number of his enemies; though every shore was hostile to the English seamen, from the extremity of Norway to the coast of Bayonne. A formidable fleet of seventy-eight sail of the line, commanded by the duke of Albemarle and prince Rupert, seemed to justify the confidence of the king. But unfortunately this force was divided in the moment of danger. It having been reported, that the duke of BeauA. D. 1666. fort had entered the channel, with a French fleet of forty sail, prince Rupert was detached with twenty.

sail to oppose him. Meanwhile the Dutch fleet, to the number of ninety sail, commanded by de Ruyter and Tromp, had put to sea; and Albemarle, notwithstanding his inferiority, rashly sought an engagement23. But his valour atoned for his temerity. The battle that ensued was one of the most memorable in the annals of mankind; whether we consider its duration, or the desperate courage with which it was fought.

Four days did the combat rage, without any appearance of valour slackening on either side. The Dutch had the advantage in the action of the first day; yet Albemarle, in engaging de Ruyter, had shewed himself worthy of his former renown. Two Dutch admirals were slain, and three English ships taken. One Dutch ship was burnt. Darkness parted the combatants. Next morning the battle was renewed with redoubled fierceness; and the Dutch were ready to give way, when they were reinforced with sixteen capital ships. The English now found that the most heroic valour cannot counterbalance the superiority of numbers, against an enemy not defective either in courage or conduct. Albemarle, however, would yield to nothing but the interposition of night; and although he had lost no ships in this second action, he found his force so much weakened, that he resolved to take advantage of the darkness and retire. But the vigilance of the enemy, and the shattered condition of his fleet, prevented him from fully executing his design. Before morning, however, he was able to make some way; and it was four in the afternoon, before de Ruyter could come up with him. His disabled ships were ordered to make all the sail possible, and keep a-head, while he himself closed the rear with sixteen of the most entire, and presented an undaunted countenance to the Hollanders. Determined to perish sooner than to strike, he prepared to renew the action. But as he was sensible the probability of success was against him, he declared to the

23. Clarendor's Life. Contin. of Baler.

earl

earl of Ossory, son of the duke of Ormond, who was then on board with him, his intention to blow up his ship rather than fall into the hands of the enemy: and that gallant youth applauded the desperate resolution. But fortune rescued both from such a violent death, at the same time that it saved the English navy. A fleet being descried before the action was renewed, suspense for a time restrained the rage of the combatants. One party concluded it to be the duke of Beaufort, the other prince Rupert, and both rent the sky with their shouts. At length, to the unspeakable joy of the English, it was discovered to be the prince. Night prevented an immediate renewal of the action, but next moruing the battle raged with more intenseness than ever. Through the whole fourth day the contest remained doubtful: and toward evening both fleets, as if weary of carnage, retired under a thick fog to their respective harbours24.

But the English admirals were men of too high valour to be satisfied with less than victory. While they sent the disabled ships to different docks to be refitted, they remained on board their own. The whole fleet was soon ready to put to sea, and a new engagement was eagerly sought. Nor was it long denied them. Ruyter and Tromp, with the Dutch fleet, consisting of about eighty sail, had posted themselves at the mouth of the Thames, in hopes of being joined by a French squadron, and of riding triumphant in the channel. There they were descried by the English fleet, under prince Rupert and Albemarle. The force on both sides was nearly equal. The Dutch bore toward the coast of Holland, but were closely pursued. At length they formed themselves in order of battle, and a terrible conflict ensued. Sir Thomas Allen, who commanded the English white squadron, attacked the Dutch van with irresistible fury, and killed the three admirals who commanded it. Tromp engaged, and defeated sir Jeremy Smith, admiral

JULY 19.

24. Basnage. Clarendon. Heath.

of